To Be One in Christ: We Have Treasure in the Jars of Clay -- the Series of Explanation and Analysis of Scripture (12) - 2 - part I
The Explanation and Analysis of Some of the Verses in Chapter 2 of 2 TIMOTHY
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ” (2 TIMOTHY 2:1 -10)
The workers of God should be the good soldiers of Christ. In this chapter from verse 1 to 10, several parables are used to describe what kind of persons the Christians should be:
reliable teachers, good soldiers who are willing to endure hardships, single-minded soldiers, athletes who compete according to the rules, hardworking farmers, prisoners who endure the sufferings and so on. We, as the workers of God, should all be the good soldiers of Christ.
From verse 1 to verse 10, some necessary spiritual characters of a good soldier of Christ are listed. A good soldier of Christ should:
“be strong ” (2:1), be “reliable” (2:2), “endure hardship ” (2:3), be devoted (2:4), “compete according to the rules” (2:5), be “hardworking” (2:6), have “insight” (2:7), remember the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2:8), give up oneself (2:9), “endure” (2:10) and so on.
(1) “be strong”:
The secret for us to be strong and the source of our power, are all in LORD Jesus Christ. As long as we unite with Him, we will be strong, and will be strengthened in His grace.
(2) reliable and faithful teachers:
The workers of God should not only faithfully obey the truth themselves, but also should teach others to do the same; not only teach others, but also entrust the truth to the reliable men to proclaim the truth so that to bring more faithful people to obey the truth. Therefore, being “faithful” does not indicate only that one himself obeys the teachings of LORD. The faithful workers not only seek that they themselves are used by LORD, but also seek to bring up more useful and valuable instruments in the house of God that God can put them on the important positions. A reliable servant used by LORD, not only believes that he can be used by LORD, but also believes many others can be used by LORD all the same. Thus, he is able to entrust his work, gift, right and insight of the light of the truth to others. In this way, his work won’t be limited by his finite self.
(3) good soldiers who are willing to endure hardships:
“Endure hardship with us ”:
A. The author of our salvation endured the cross in order to redeem us and bring us to glory:
“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. ” (Heb 2:10)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” (Heb 12:2)
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ” (1Pe 1:10-11)
B. We Christians endure hardships together for Gospel; we should be perseverant and stand firm in the faith:
“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ” (2Ti 1:8)
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. ” (2Ti 1:12)
“for which (gospel) I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. ” (2Ti 2:9)
“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. ” (2Ti 4:5)
“Resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ” (1Pe 5:9)
C. Our sufferings are momentary. However, we have the peace of Christ in us, which give us comforts and strength. For Jesus Christ has overcome the world, our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all:
“"I (Jesus Christ) have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ” (Joh 16:33)
“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ” (2Co 1:5)
“And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. ” (2Co 1:7)
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ” (1Pe 5:10)
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ” (2Co 4:17)
“Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus”, Christ is the “captain” (K. J. V. Heb 2:10) of our Christians; we believers are fellow workers and fellow soldiers (Php 2:25; Phi 1:2; 2Ti 2:4); we should be good soldiers of Christ and fight the good fight (1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 4:7). To follow LORD, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. If you have not prepared this attitude when you believe in LORD Jesus, you’d better examine the teachings on the Bible now and equip yourself to get on the road!
“If anyone would come after me (Jesus Christ), he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ” (Luk 9:23)
The attitude of being willing and prepared to suffer is the weapon for us to be the good soldiers of Christ:
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. ” (1Pe 4:1)
The soldiers should be devoted completely and be obedient unconditionally. We all know the hardships of being a soldier; it is impossible for a good soldier of Christ to live a cozy life, who even might need to sacrifice his life. To be a good soldier of Christ Jesus is the requirement from Christ to us who believe in Him.
(4) single-minded soldiers:
To be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, one should be single-minded, and should not get entangled in the material and worldly things and the momentary and civilian affairs in this life. Although we also need food, clothing, and money, we absolutely do not concentrate on these things. We should know that all of these are momentary, and we are aliens and strangers in the world. As long as we have food and clothing basically, we should be content with that. To be the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we should not get involved in the civilian affaires and should concentrate on the work of the ministry. To be a soldier, one needs to be devoted and be obedient unconditionally. To be good soldiers of Christ, we should devote ourselves to pleasing LORD, but not seek for the self-satisfaction; we should work for the interests of LORD, but not one’s own cause.
(5) athletes who compete according to the rules:
Believing in Jesus and serving LORD must be done according to the rules established by God to obtain the crown of righteousness. The condition for the Christians to overcome is to do things according to the rules. Our rules are, doing everything according to the truth, fighting against the influence and domination of sins and evils, competing against those corrupt customs of the world and all kinds of disobedient force to God. We can not use the means of blood and flesh, and the fists of flesh. We can only by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit do everything according to the truth. The fight of the believers against the sins and evils, is not to use the visible fists, method and means of men; but to rely on the help from the invisible God.
(6) hardworking farmers:
One who serves LORD should be like a farmer; for the farmer is hardworking, patient, perseverant, and prepared to work all the time. This is a necessary characteristics of the servants of God. Reading the Bible more must receive more spiritual crops; making more efforts to save others must receive more spiritual seeds; we should be the hardworking farmers and sow more good seeds. Being “hardworking” is the secret for us to “be the first to receive a share of the crops”.
(7) be given insight from LORD Christ:
“for the Lord will give you insight into all this”:
A. Wisdom, knowledge and understandings all belong to God.
B. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge of God are hidden in Christ.
C. God give Christ to us to be our wisdom and everything.
(8) remember the Gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
The good soldiers of Christ should always remember that the Gospel that we preach is Christ who was raised from the dead and was given according to the promise of God. This is the secret for us to overcome.
(9) give up oneself, as the prisoners who endure the sufferings:
The good soldiers of Christ must be willing to give up oneself for the Gospel. Since the objects that we are fighting against are the devil, sins and evils, and the sinful nature, if we can not give up ourselves, we can not win in the battle.
To suffer as a Christian is not something surprising and shameful, but something joyful and blessed. It is because to follow the road of the cross of LORD is to bring us into the glory.
The good soldiers of Christ should follow the step of LORD closely and be willing to carry their own cross to follow LORD. Through the cross into the glory, this is the way that LORD Jesus and the apostles had walked on before. We can not think of other ways to the glory without going through the cross; we can not expect to enjoy the reward for those who overcome, while do not need to fight for the Gospel and suffer for the truth of LORD.
We are willing to be given over to the death so that the life of Christ could be revealed on us; this is the secret of the Christians to overcome. We must make it clear that we overcome not by the blood and flesh, not by the means and reasons, but because we are willing to give up ourselves for LORD; thus, the Holy Spirit will have chance to work in the mind of us to show the work and power of God. All our fights are from God, not from ourselves. A Christian who is chained like a criminal, is shameful in the eyes of the worldly people. However, the will of God has complete freedom in him such that because of him, the Gospel is more prosperous and widely spread. Thus, the word of God is not chained.
(10) “endure”:
In order to preach Gospel and let others to receive the complete salvation of Christ Jesus and the eternal life, the workers of God should learn to be patient and perseverant, and in everything be patient and perseverant. Patience is one of the fruit of Holy Spirit. We should learn Christ's perseverance. We should love God and love others, and should realize the eternal and great significance to work for God.
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” (2 TIMOTHY 2:11-13)
“If we died with him, we will also live with him; ” Since we have such hope, we should not be afraid to suffer for Gospel, and we should not be afraid even if our bodies get killed. The death of our body is temporary, for we have the hope of a glory to resurrect. Since the resurrection of Christ is a fact, “we will also live with him” is also a fact. This is the reliable and trustworthy hope for us. With this hope, we should not feel shameful any more to suffer for the Gospel, and this is the hope that the good soldiers of Christ must take hold of.
One who can not work hard and is upset easily by the criticism, is easily discouraged, and likes complaining, can not be used by LORD and reign together with LORD. God allow us to encounter all kinds of trials; it is for the purpose of training our life and making us stable and experienced so that we can reign together with Him. Endurance is the condition to be the king; therefore, if we endure together with Him, we will reign with Him.
Blessed are those who are insulted and persecuted because of the name of LORD. However, if one disowns LORD, LORD will disown him.
God is faithful. The faithfulness of God is established on God Himself. God Himself is the backer of His faithfulness. The reason that the faithfulness of God is solid and unchanging, is because God Himself is eternal and unchanging.
The faithfulness of LORD is because of His nature, not like ours which is because of the responsibility and bounds; but it is because His nature is faithfulness and can not disown Himself. He can not disown His righteousness, love and holiness and all that He determine.
However, we must not misunderstand this verse of “for he cannot disown himself”; and partially interpret it from the aspect of His love to us; that is an incomplete understanding of this verse. “For he cannot disown himself”, also implies that He can not appease the sins and evils, transgressions, disobedience of us and the situations that we should be disciplined. His words are reliable and faithful, not only including His forgiveness and endurance, but also including His rebuke, discipline and judgment.
“Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ” (2 TIMOTHY 2:19-22)
God already laid foundation, which is Jesus Christ (1Co 3:11). The Lord knows those who are his, and who are the devil’s. “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” LORD teaches that: “"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ” (Mat 7:21) Those who confess the name of LORD, do things in His name, and believe that they themselves belong to the name of LORD, should turn away from all the wickedness. As to those who confess the name of LORD with mouth, while do not do what is right, they are not righteous and do not belong to God. All wrongdoing is sin. Since one has confessed the name of LORD, he should not remain in sins any more; this is one of the inscriptions of those who belong to Him.
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ” (1Jo 3:7)
“All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. ” (1Jo 5:17)
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1Jo 3:10)
Who are able to be the noble instruments in front of God? They are those who are cleansed from the ignoble instruments. The believers should cleanse themselves, flee from all the sinful nature and evil desires, turn away from all the wrongdoings, be separated from the old self, deny oneself, empty oneself, be filled with the holy life of LORD Jesus Christ, be holy, and be one in Christ; then they can be the noble and useful instruments to LORD in the house of God. We should rely on LORD to do what is good and righteous, and be the instruments to show the glorious life of God.
We should not be tempted by the evil desires and should pursue the spiritual growth together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (that is, who do not live according to the sinful nature and selfish desires, who love LORD and are spiritual. ) Here, it mentions several spiritual virtues that the workers of God should have: righteousness, faith, love and peace.
It is edited and compiled under the guidance of Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!
References:
1. Zhongdao Chen: “The Lectures on the Bible Studying of the Letters in New Testament”.
2. P. C. Chong: “The Bible Courses”.
3. Quoted notes from Watchman Nee, Shuguang Niu.
